Congratulations on your debut novel! Let me start with asking you to tell us a little about yourself. Also, enlighten the readers on a few things you enjoy when you're not writing.My husband, Don, and I are co-authors of Stranded: A Novel. We’ve been married forty-nine years and started writing together ten years ago. After a long day at our keyboards, we pretty much relax by watching a movie or episodes of a TV series on Netflix. We love analyzing them for what makes them successful. Aside from that for recreation, we love our church and participate in many of its activities.Please tell the readers about Stranded. Sure. Here’s the back cover blurb:All Marine Corps reservist Jake Chalmers wants is to give his dying wife a last, romantic cruise to the Philippines. Unable to save her in a mass murder aboard ship, he washes ashore a jungle island, where he discovers three other survivors. Heartbroken that he failed to save his wife, he is determined not to fail these helpless castaways. Federal prosecutor Eve Eriksson rescues a young girl and her elderly great-aunt from the same ship. They badly need Jake's survival skills, but why is he so maddeningly careful? She needs to hurry home to nail a significant career trial. And, please, before Jake learns her secret that she's responsible for his wife's death.

When did you first discover that you loved writing? How did you become co-authors?The interesting thing here is that I always loved reading and writing, whereas Don rarely touched a book and preferred movies—yet it was he who initially wrote the book! In 1999, a storyline began occupying his mind as he drove to and from work until finally he started writing it down. Five months later he suffered a stroke and lost all ability to read. Happily, writing Stranded became his therapy and he taught himself to read again. After a few years he asked me to help him with the story. At first I thought I’d just correct the grammar and spelling, but I fell in love with the story and we started our “career” as co-authors.What about the story attracted you to join him? I was captured by the fast-paced adventure with all its twists and turns. My husband is a Marine Corps reservist, so he has all kinds of fascinating details in the story that help it come alive. He also wanted the protagonist to be a Christ-figure, so I got to have fun adding the dimensions of faith and symbolism to the story.What was your writing process?For the most part we had a division of labor. He scripted the original draft and I rewrote it after we discussed and reshaped the story. We overhauled it at least three times over the years as we kept “learning how to write” from attending writers conferences, taking online classes, and being part of a critique group.Where can readers find you and your novels?Our novel is available for $2.99 on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OQGJBUY. Other links:http://donandstephanieprichard.wordpress.comwww.pinterest.com/stephprichardwww.facebook.com/4u2readThank you for the interview, Mary!It was fun having you on my blog Steph. I wish you much success. Don’t forget, until Dec.4th you can comment for a chance to win an eBook copy of “Stranded.”

Your novel sounds fascinating, Stephanie. What a great idea to take some truths experienced, or known to your hubby, and work together. I know it helped him during a rough patch, but also it had to be fun to learn about things from this time in service. It's inspiring to some of us who write and have husbands who are vets, and it sounds better than reruns on television. Your book and working together to make it happen is great, and I look forward to reading it.

Thanks, Diane. I was pleased with how writing together gave us a new and wonderful bond. We call Stranded our fourth child! :-)

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Diane Dean White

11/24/2014 08:52:38 pm

Stephanie, my hubby has formatted a couple of my books, and it works great! :) Mainly because I'm tech challenged and he isn't into writing at this point. I'd love to do something in that area together. Yet I'm grateful he can do the technology part for me...will you two do another one? :)

LOL, Diane, can you believe Don has already written the rough drafts for four more stories? I'm slow and methodical and perfectionistic, whereas Don is a dash-ahead kind of guy.It's sorta like harnessing the tortoise and the hare, LOL! So, yes, we'll work on book two once the holidays are over.
Maybe you can ease your husband into writing together by having him give feedback on what you're writing now. Attending writing conferences together was also very helpful for Don and me. And talking about what made a movie good (or not) was also fun.
Best wishes for your endeavors!

What a great personal story you two have. And your book sounds like a great read! I love the idea of husband/wife collaboration, and it's funny how you describe you and your husband as tortoise and hare, since I often think that way about my own marriage. I'm the plodder, too! Have fun writing together!

Hi, Nancy ~ another benefit of collaborating was that it helped make our characters more realistic. Sometimes Don would look at what I'd written and say, "Men don't think like that." And sometimes I'd read what he'd written and say, "That's insulting to women." LOL, we learned a lot about each other that way!

You raise an interesting topic for me. I have a question about the difference between how men and women think. Do you think some of this is based on stereotypes that people take on, or cultural differences like what region people live in, or whether they are from rural or urban areas? I've noticed myself that in the Northeast, where I live, a lot of men seem to be more comfortable with showing some sensitivity, whereas that appears to be frowned upon in other regional and cultural areas. What are your thoughts?

Interesting question, Nancy! I see the answer as a sort of pyramid: at the base we were all created "man"--huMAN (I know, works only in English, LOL); next layer, we're created distinctly male or female, which is more than a physical difference; next layer up, we're who we are bc of our particular genes; and at the top we're influenced by our culture and personal experiences. When we're redeemed by Christ, those layers are still there but "freed up" to grow spiritually. Does that answer your question, LOL?

Yes, and what a great answer. It amazes me how complex all of our minds are, and how unique. I have a very curious mind myself, so I always ask lots of questions! Thanks for answering mine! :)

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Michele

11/30/2014 11:27:31 pm

Writing as a husband and wife team must be wonderful! I'm sure the story is enriched by the voice of both male and female writers. Blessings to you both and prayers for many more cowritten novels to come.

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stephanie prichard

12/1/2014 01:44:06 am

Hi, Michele! Thanks for your prayers ~ we hope to start on the sequel to Stranded after the holidays.